Vilnius

Visitors come to wander cobbled lanes and courtyards, climb to Gediminas' Tower, explore the artists' quarter of Užupis and learn about a past shaped by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a great Jewish community and the struggle for independence. Vilnius suits culture lovers, couples, friends on a city break and families, and its compact centre is easy to walk. Day trips lead to the island castle of Trakai and the archaeological site of Kernavė. Vacation rentals are mostly apartments in historic buildings in the Old Town and Užupis and in the leafy districts around them.

Where to stay in Vilnius

The Old Town is the natural base for a first visit, with the cathedral, Pilies Street, the Town Hall Square and most museums on foot. Many apartments occupy historic buildings around inner courtyards, so ask about stairs and street noise on weekend nights. Užupis, just across the Vilnia, is a former run-down district that artists turned into a bohemian quarter, with galleries, workshops and views of the churches; it feels village-like and is close to everything.

Naujamiestis, the New Town west of the centre, mixes 19th-century buildings with newer flats and suits travellers who want space and good transport. Žvėrynas, across the Neris near Vingis Park, the city's largest park, has quiet streets and old wooden houses. Antakalnis, to the east, is green and residential, comfortable for families and longer stays. Šnipiškės, north of the river, is the high-rise business district and practical for work trips.

The Old Town and its churches

Vilnius has been Lithuania's capital since at least 1323, when Grand Duke Gediminas first named it in his letters; legend says he founded the city after dreaming of an iron wolf howling on a hill. Gediminas' Tower, the last part of the Upper Castle, crowns that hill, and its viewing platform looks over the Old Town and the modern business district across the river. Below it stand the cathedral and the rebuilt Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, now part of the National Museum.

Pilies Street, the main artery of the Old Town, links the palace with the Town Hall. Along it or close by are Vilnius University, founded in 1579, Literatų Street, whose walls carry small artworks honouring writers linked to the city, and, nearer the Vilnia, the brick Gothic church of St Anne, built around 1500, beside the Bernardine church. At the southern edge, the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn, set in one of the old city gates, holds a revered 17th-century painting of the Virgin and draws many pilgrims.

History and memory

For centuries Vilnius was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and a meeting place of Lithuanians, Poles, Jews, Russians, Belarusians and others. It was one of Europe's most important centres of Jewish learning, and Napoleon is said to have called it the Jerusalem of the North when he passed through in 1812. Between the world wars the city belonged to Poland, and during the German occupation of the Second World War most of its Jewish population was murdered in the Holocaust.

After the war Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union until the Supreme Council declared independence on 11 March 1990. On 13 January 1991 Soviet troops attacked the radio and television building and the TV Tower, killing 14 civilians, and the Soviet Union recognised Lithuania's independence in September of that year. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, in the former KGB building on Lukiškės Square, tells this story.

Užupis, festivals and city life

On 1 April 1997 Užupis declared itself an independent republic, with its own humorous constitution displayed on plaques along one of its streets, and it has since become one of the city's favourite places to walk, eat and meet artists. Vilnius has many green spaces too: Vingis Park hosts the national Song and Dance Festival, held roughly every four years, and a boat route runs along the Neris past its bridges.

Kaziukas Fair, or Saint Casimir's Fair, fills the Old Town's streets and markets on the Sunday nearest 4 March with crafts, food and folk art. Midsummer and Christmas are widely celebrated, and the city's Christmas tree stands on Cathedral Square. Vilnius was a European Capital of Culture in 2009, and its cafés, small theatres and music venues give the centre a lively, youthful feel all year.

Getting there and day trips

Vilnius Airport (VNO), named Vilnius Čiurlionis International Airport from 2025, is about 6 km south of the centre and is the largest of Lithuania's three commercial airports. Buses, trains and taxis link it with the city. In town, the Old Town is best on foot, and buses and trolleybuses run by the city's public transport company cover the rest; a car is not needed unless you plan to explore the countryside.

Trakai, about 28 km west, is a lakeside town whose Trakai Island Castle stands on an island in Lake Galvė. Building in stone began in the 14th century under Kęstutis and was largely completed around 1409 by his son Vytautas the Great; it now houses a history museum. Trakai is also known for its Karaim community. Kernavė, north-west of the city, was a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy, and its hill forts have been a UNESCO site since 2004.

Weather, money and short-let rules

Vilnius has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy, with short days, and summers are mild to warm, with long light evenings around Midsummer. May to September is the most comfortable time for walking and day trips, while December brings festive lights to the Old Town. Lithuania has used the euro since 1 January 2015, and cards are widely accepted.

In early 2026 short-term rentals in apartment buildings were under review: officials said that existing rules did not provide for tourist accommodation in residential flats in multi-unit buildings, and the government was preparing an exception to allow it. Until the rules are settled, guests should check that their host operates legally and follow building rules on noise and shared spaces. Check the current official position before booking.